“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-clause (a) of clause (1) of Article 80 of the Constitution of India, read with clause (3) of that Article, the President is pleased to nominate Shri Satnam Singh Sandhu to the Council of States to fill the vacancy caused due to the retirement of one of the nominated members,” read a circular from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar welcomed Sandhu's nomination to the Upper House of the Parliament.
“I welcome the nomination of Shri Satnam Singh Sandhu Ji to the Rajya Sabha. His rich work in community service and his passion towards education, innovation, and learning will be big sources of strength for the Rajya Sabha. I wish him the very best for his tenure," Dhankhar wrote on X.
In reply, Sandhu wrote, “Humbled by your gracious wishes, Hon’ble @VPIndia Ji Being nominated to Rajya Sabha is a tremendous honour. I aspire to dedicate my services to our nation and being a voice for the people. I remain committed to spreading the idea of #ViksitBharat within our country and abroad.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he is delighted that President Murmu has nominated Sandhu to the Rajya Sabha.
“I am delighted that Rashtrapati Ji has nominated Shri Satnam Singh Sandhu Ji to the Rajya Sabha. Satnam Ji has distinguished himself as a noted educationist and social worker, who has been serving people at the grassroots in different ways. He has always worked extensively to further national integration and has also worked with the Indian diaspora. I wish him the very best for his Parliamentary journey and am confident the Rajya Sabha proceedings will be enriched by his views,” PM Modi wrote on X.
Sandhu thanked the Prime Minister for having faith in him.
"Thank you PM @narendramodi Ji for the faith you have placed in me and the opportunity you have given me to become a small part of your monumental mission. There can be no bigger testament to the new India you are building than the fact that someone like me, from a humble family of farmers, has been given such an opportunity to voice the aspirations of the people. My life is devoted to one mission- to strengthen every effort you make for our nation and to build a Viksit Bharat by 2047,” Sandhu replied.
Who is Satnam Singh Sandhu?
As per the official notification, Sandhu, who is the son of a farmer, is one of the country's leading educationists. He is an agriculturist, who struggled to get proper education in his childhood.
Sandhu was instrumental in the establishing
Chandigarh Group of Colleges (CGC) at Landran in Mohali in 2001. He also founded the Chandigarh University in 2012.
Moreover, Sandhu has been actively involved in large-scale community efforts to improve health and wellness and to advance communal harmony via his two NGOs -- the Indian Minorities Foundation and the New India Development Foundation.
(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)
